News
Cardinal calls for foreign team to investigate Easter Sunday attacks

Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on Wednesday (06) called for an independent international team to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks.The team must be supported by CID officials who were initially involved in the investigation but were transferred to other areas by a biased political authority, the Cardinal said.
Minister Manusha Nanayakkara had said that a parliament select committee would be appointed to investigate the allegations made by a Channel 04 documentary, the Cardinal said.
“From the day of the attacks,even though a parliament select committee and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry had been appointed to investigate these sad events, and recommendations were made by them, there has been no positive and credible action by political authorities,” the prelate said.
The earlier parliament select committee had been appointed when President Ranil Wickremesinghe was Prime Minister, he said, noting that the present and previous government had paid lip service to findings made by the probe committees.
“Nothing clear and tangible will emerge from another Parliament select committee. Appointing such a committee will only lead to a waste of public funds and be an exercise in misleading the public. So, we reject this proposal outright,” he said.
The Cardinal said that they want an independent and impartial investigation into what Channel 4 documentary on the Easter Sunday attacks revealed.
“Those mentioned in the documentary must be investigated to determine if they indeed played a role in this mass murder. This investigation must take place through an independent international investigation team. This team must be supported by CID officials who were initially involved in the investigation and were transferred to other areas by a biased political authority,” he said.
Since these fresh investigations need to be independent, all the officials in the police and intelligence agencies, who need to be investigated, should be suspended forthwith, he said.
“Any such officials named in the Channel 4 video should move out of their high positions in order to ensure the independence of the inquiry. SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena who is now the Senior DIG Administration and who had been found guilty by the Supreme Court for culpable neglect of duties during the Easter Sunday attacks, and SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon whose neglect was cited by the Presidential Commission, should both be suspended until the new inquiry is over. We hope these requests will be carried out by the President and the government of Sri Lanka,” he said.
News
Secretary to the President meets with heads of the Health sector

A special discussion between Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and the heads of the health sector was held on Tuesday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, it was discussed that a committee would be formed to explore possible steps that could be taken through the President’s Fund to reduce the number of patients on long waiting lists for surgeries in government hospitals.
The committee is expected to submit a report on the matter within one month. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, as indicated by the Secretary to the President.
The discussion highlighted the significant number of patients, including those requiring cardiac, ophthalmic, and paediatric surgeries, who are currently awaiting procedures on long waiting lists at government hospitals.
Attention was also given to the potential support that could be provided by the President’s Fund and other relevant sectors to address the challenges faced by these patients.
Additionally, discussions were held regarding the possibility of conducting surgeries after regular working hours at government hospitals. The challenges faced by doctors and staff were also thoroughly discussed during the meeting.
The discussion was attended by several key officials, including Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, along with directors and specialist doctors from major hospitals across the country.
News
Govt. plan to boost revenue with taxes on vehicle imports unrealistic, warns Harsha

By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that vehicle imports would be affected by unusually high prices. Commencing the Second Reading debate from the Opposition side, Dr. de Silva said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, in his Budget speech, projected a substantial portion of tax revenue from vehicle imports. “What is the feasibility of such expectations, given the current price surge,” the MP queried.
“Who can afford to import vehicles at these rates? I do not believe there are enough affluent individuals in Sri Lanka to sustain vehicle imports at these exorbitant prices.”
Providing examples of the dramatic price increase, Dr. de Silva pointed out that a Toyota Raize now cost Rs. 12.2 mn, a Toyota Yaris Rs. 18.5 mn, and a Toyota Prius a staggering Rs. 28.9 mn.
“Someone mentioned that a Toyota Vitz could be available at Rs. 1.4 mn.”
Dr. de Silva said that the government aimed to increase tax revenue by 1.6% of GDP with a significant portion expected from vehicle imports. However, he warned that achieving that target was unrealistic under current circumstances. The government must reassess its reliance on this sector for increasing tax revenue,” he said.
News
SLN receives shallow water multi-beam echo sounder from Australia

Giving a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s hydrographic capabilities, the government of Australia handed over a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) during a ceremony held at SLNS Rangalla today (18 Feb 25). The formal ceremony was held under the auspices of the High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, marking new chapter in the discipline of hydrography.
The Australian government provided the Sri Lanka Navy with this Multi Beam Echo Sounder to enhance its hydrographic capabilities. This advanced equipment will enable the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) to conduct precise hydrographic surveys, essential for creating nautical and electronic charts for international use. The device will also facilitate the production of high-precision nautical charts, ensuring safer maritime navigation.
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